Ivory Coast has a rich weaving heritage, and today’s designers are carrying it onto the international stage.
Cloth with a story
Weaving traditions among the Akan people are described as extensive and long-lasting, and kente cloth was woven on behalf of royalty. Designers use Baoulé pagne, which is cotton, and Kita pagne, a cotton-silk cloth whose origins trace back to the Ashanti Kingdom. Pagne weaving is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Designers to know
Abidjan-based Loza Maleombho makes handmade creations, and in 2020 Beyoncé wore one of her black-and-white print jackets in the video for “Already”. Elie Kuame runs his own house in Cocody, launched the label Born in Africa and founded Abidjan Fashion Week. Couturier Ibrahim Fernandez, working with LaFalaise Dion, co-created a dress worn by singer Aya Nakamura at a Stade de France concert.
Growing interest
Fashion United reports that UNESCO projects a 42 per cent rise in demand for African fashion items over the coming decade.
Sources: FashionUnited: Ivory Coast designers, Wikipedia: Culture of Ivory Coast.
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